California’s drought, water laws offer lessons for BC

BC can learn from California’s extreme drought and recent groundwater law reforms when drafting its own regulations that will have an impact on communities across the province, indicates a new study.

California’s Oranges and B.C.’s Apples? Lessons for B.C. from California Groundwater Reform is co-authored by the POLIS Project at the University of Victoria and Ecojustice. The study released on June 10 analyzed California’s legislation while taking into account the climatic, social and legal differences between the state and BC.

“BC’s new Water Sustainability Act provides real opportunities to better manage groundwater use in the province,” says Oliver M. Brandes, co-director of the POLIS Project and co-author of the report with lawyer Randy Christensen of Ecojustice. “By employing a proactive approach and learning from California, BC can avoid a crisis situation.”

BC is currently drafting its first regulations for pumping and allocating groundwater under the new Water Sustainability Act. It has been the only province without groundwater regulation. California passed its new Sustainable Groundwater Management Act last year in response to an unprecedented, multi-year drought.

“There are some really rich learning opportunities from California that cannot be ignored. It’s rare for two jurisdictions with this level of similarity to be undergoing such significant changes at the same time,” says Christensen.

The report offers a number of key findings and insights that include the urgent need to begin piloting groundwater sustainability plans in critical watersheds in BC; the necessity for clear performance standards, timelines and accountability for local decision-making bodies to ensure successful watershed or aquifer plans; and the importance of shared responsibility between senior government and local decision-makers who have the context and expertise to help manage water resources under clear enforceable standards and regulations.

A copy of the study can be downloaded at http://poliswaterproject.org/orangesapples

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